Assistant Secretary of Rural Economic Development Kenny Flowers

Kenny Flowers serves as the Assistant Secretary for Rural Economic Development at the North Carolina Department of Commerce. In this role he provides guidance for the Department in its efforts to support rural communities and help foster rural prosperity. Kenny leads a team of community and economic development specialists that help communities make the preparations and infrastructure investments needed to attract business and industry, and spur economic growth.

Prior to joining N.C. Commerce, Kenny served as the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Community and Regional Development at East Carolina University's Office of Innovation and Economic Development. In that role he provided leadership and direction for the University's community and regional outreach and engagement programs. Mr. Flowers developed and implemented the ECU Municipal Management and Innovation initiative that delivered administrative, management and project assistance to small, limited capacity municipalities; the ECU Community Enhancement and Capacity Building program that provided financial resources and economic development products and services to distressed and rural communities; and the ECU Rural Community Consortium, that engaged faculty, staff and students in partnership with statewide organizations and rural community leaders. Under his leadership ECU Community and Regional Development programs secured funding in excess of $30 Million for rural development in eastern North Carolina, established more than 70 formal partnerships with local governments and nonprofit organizations, and completed over 50 community development projects with regional partners.

Earlier in his career, Kenny served as Director of Rural Development at the North Carolina Department of Commerce, and as a Fiscal Analyst to the Appropriations Subcommittee for Education at the North Carolina General Assembly.

Mr. Flowers received his Master of Public Policy from the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, and his bachelor's degree in Public Policy and Political Science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.